How about Dwarf 2010? Make all the graphics modern looking. Is there a way to have multiple tilesets at the same time? If so, you could have office space, science labs, residences, maybe skyscraper / glass buildings..... Not really sure where this would go though. Could you change it so that instead of building things at workshops you did research at research stations and traded stocks and...eh heck...I don't know.
Ok, heres another modern idea. You are a construction crew or group of people who survived word war 3. You have to build a fortress / compound / skyscraper / whatever. Waves of zombies or mutated creatures could throw themselves at your defenses. Other survivors could find you and ask for asylum...maybe they will mutate later, maybe they won't. Hey, mutations could be a neet thing to play with. Maybe you could mutate into a slobbering killing machine and wipe out everyone at your base or maybe you can mutate into the same slobbering killing machine and remember who you are and keep helping your group. Or maybe a super genius but with a strong craving for live cat. Maybe you could setup trade relations with other groups (Humans, mutants, Ghouls, etc) that are in your world or maybe they will want to eat you...